Radon
Is Radon a Major Cause of Cancer Deaths in Utah?
Check out this article by Brad Callister from the Utah Radon Coalition
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Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. for non-smokers and the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer for smokers.
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Cancer survivors are especially susceptible to the dangers of radon:
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Exposure to radiation is known to cause certain cancers to recur.
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Survivors of cancer other than lung cancer are susceptible to getting lung cancer from exposure to radon.
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Exposure to radon typically occurs in the home.
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1 in 3 homes in Carbon, Emery & Grand counties have high radon levels.
Radon testing can reveal high levels of radon in your home. Mitigation systems help reduce radon to safe levels.
Check out this KSL Studio 5 interview with TJ Mellars from Utah Radon Services as he shared information on radon and how to protect your family!
https://studio5.ksl.com/home-protected-radon-install-safeguards/
Utah is a hotbed for radon.
Between 1973 and 2019, there were approximately 6278 fatalities in Utah attributable to lung cancer caused by radon gas (based on World Health Organization general estimate that 14% - 25% of lung cancer cases are attributable to radon gas).
Thousands of fatalities before 1973 from radon gas are likely as well. To date, the number of lung cancer fatalities caused by radon gas make radon gas Utah’s most deadly geologic hazard.
Geologic conditions directly affect indoor radon gas concentrations; however, indoor radon gas concentrations are highly dependent on building construction methods. Radon comes from the natural decay of uranium which is found in nearly all rock and soil. When geologic and building conditions are favorable, the potential for high indoor levels of radon gas increases.
The Good News
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You can test for radon. Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon.
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A radon problem is fixable. Radon reduction systems work and they are not too costly. Some radon reduction systems can reduce radon levels in your home by up to 99%. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels.
Testing for Radon
Free test kits are available by visiting
https://www.utahradonservices.com/radon-test/